Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Long Day

Today was round one with the dentist. I'm tired. I walked outside at about 6:45 this morning and didn't walk back inside until 6:15 tonight. Glad I ate that cranberry muffin this morning before going outside!! I was so hungry when I finally made it back inside my house for my first break of the day I could have eaten a horse (pun intended). I was proud of myself though. Instead of grabbing a bag of potato chips and eating the whole thing in about two seconds - I was starving hungry - I ate an apple instead. I'm trying to be better lately about not heading straight to the junk food when I'm famished and busy.

The horses were all good today with one exception and he, who shall remain unnamed, was awful. Unfortunately this is a life long pattern with him. He will tolerate the power float a little better than a hand float, every year we try both to see if it makes any difference, but regardless of the tool we were using he wanted no part of it. I always have his teeth floated on the first day of dentist appointments so his name can be crossed off the list asap. Thankfully the rest of the horses were gems.

All of the boys who had their teeth floated today also had a thorough sheath cleaning. I always clean sheaths when they have their teeth floated since they are already sedated anyway. Most of the boys are good about letting me check for beans any time. There are a couple of residents who would just as soon kick my head off as have me mess around with their sheath so they all get a thorough sheath cleaning in conjunction with teeth floating.

The horses will really love me tomorrow as several of them will be coming back in the barn again for the farrier. I suspect a few of them will see the halters coming out again and make a run for it. Their patience with having their herd time interrupted will probably not extend to two days in a row. Wish me luck tomorrow. :) I am off to tuck in the world's cutest fainting goats and go to bed. I should sleep very well tonight.

Chance; he started his career at the track, then pulled a carriage for tourists, and ended his career as a h/j mount. Chance is a really sweet and laid back horse, you can tell he's seen a lot in life.

Traveller; Traveller is a large pony and he loves to be bathed and groomed. He is also the most determined cribber I have ever been around in my 30 years with horses. His front teeth were long ago worn down to the gums by his incessant cribbing so he latches on with his gums and cribs away. The collar helps keep him under control to a point but still doesn't completely stop him. I tried leaving his collar off once and within 12 hours he had given himself a gas colic, thankfully extremely mild, from non-stop cribbing. Traveller showed in the children's pony hunters and the regular pony hunters and was champion at many prestigious shows including the Washington International Horse Show.

Norman hanging out with Sky and Bonnie. I think Norman is the only pony who could have filled Poco's shoes. He is as feisty and as all pony as Poco was but in a much easier package - he has GREAT ground manners! I groomed Norman the other day and my comment to Amy about it was that it was a very satisfying experience. He makes me smile every single time I see him. Isn't that a great thing to be able to say about one of your customers?Follow the leader; Homer in the front followed by Levendi, Elfin and Leo. All of these guys were top notch "A" circuit hunters. We call Homer "Homey" or "Home fry" and Elfin is known as the instigator. If there is any type of trouble, drama or action you can be pretty certain that Elfin is involved. Leo is also a big mischief maker and it is no surprise that he and Elfin are often found in the same place! Levendi is a gorgeous dark bay Oldenburg with one of the cutest faces on the farm. We joke that Levendi is a pony that somehow ended up in a horse's body.

Baby on the run with Dustin behind him. Baby is a son of the well known hunter sire Jupiter. Baby is the fanciest hunter mover I have ever seen. Anyone who sees him trot across the field when he is relaxed and showing off his stuff is blown away. Dustin is a Westphalian and a son of the famous Olympic show jumper Starman. Dustin followed in his father's footsteps and showed in the big jumper classes as well.

Buffy and Missy grazing early in the morning. Buffy is a beautiful thoroughbred mare and Missy is a super sweet large pony. Missy is Buffy's pony whether she wants to be or not.

Winston and Trillion grazing together. Trillion was a nationally ranked show hunter and was circuit champion more than once at the Winter Equestrian Festival. Winston also showed in the hunters.

Lightening grazing while Chili licks away at the salt block. They were both beloved trail horses and Chili was also a working cow horse.

Faune and Sebastian; Faune is another horse who was a very elite show hunter. He is a beautiful mover and jumper. I've had the pleasure of riding him a few times and it truly was a pleasure. Sebastian was the horse that could do anything and do it well. I would have loved to have had him for my own horse.

Snappy, Clay and Slinky. Snappy was evented through the 4 star level before being injured and then converting to the hunters. Clay raced on the Quarter Horse circuit before becoming a trail horse. Slinky is a large pony and specialized in the pony equitation classes.